Multi-level shipping instructions in manufacturing systems

Abstract

A system for utilizing multi-level shipping instructions in a manufacturing system includes multiple elements. A first element can receive an order and generate an electronic, text-based file that includes shipping instructions identifying a product. The first element can also identify a second element based on the order and transmit the file to the second element. The second element can receive the file and identify manufacturing activities based on the shipping instructions. The second element can also determine whether at least one downstream element is involved in the manufacture of the product. For each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product, the second element can determine whether the shipping instructions are inappropriate for the downstream element, modify the shipping instructions if the shipping instructions are inappropriate for the downstream element, and transmit the shipping instructions to the downstream element.

1. A system for utilizing multi-level shipping instructions in a manufacturing system, comprising:
 a first element operable to receive an order associated with manufacture of a product, to generate an electronic, text-based file based on the order, the file including shipping instructions identifying the product, to identify a second element based on the order, and to transmit the file to the second element; and 
 the second element operable to receive the file including the shipping instructions, to identify manufacturing activities to be completed at the second element based on the shipping instructions, to generate instructions for the identified manufacturing activities to be completed at the second element, to determine whether at least one downstream element is involved in the manufacture of the product, and, for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product, to identify a rating of the downstream element, to determine whether the shipping instructions are inappropriate for the downstream element at least in part based on the rating of the downstream element, to modify the shipping instructions if the shipping instructions are determined to be inappropriate for the downstream element, and to transmit the shipping instructions to the downstream element. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of downstream elements each operable to receive the shipping instructions, the shipping instructions identifying at least one resource used in the manufacture of the product and an address, to identify the resource based on the shipping instructions, and to schedule shipment of the resource to the address. 
 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second element is further operable, for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product, to determine whether to transmit a drop shipment instruction or a relay shipment instruction to the downstream element, to ensure that the shipping instructions include the drop shipment instruction in response to determining to transmit the drop shipment instruction to the downstream element, and to ensure that the shipping instructions include the relay shipment instruction in response to determining to transmit the relay shipment instruction to the downstream element. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second element is further operable, for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product, to identify a manufacturing activity to be completed at the downstream element and to determine whether the shipping instructions are inappropriate for the downstream element at least in part based on the identified manufacturing activity to be completed at the downstream element. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second element is further operable, for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product, to identify a customer associated with the shipping instructions and to determine whether the shipping instructions are inappropriate for the downstream element at least in part based on the identified customer. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second element is further operable, for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product, to identify whether the downstream element is part of a pack group and to ensure that the shipping instructions include a relay shipment instruction in response to identifying that the downstream element is part of the pack group. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shipping instructions received by the second element include an assembly instruction instructing the second element to assemble multiple components of the product. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shipping instructions received by each downstream element identify at least one upstream element and include a relay shipment instruction instructing the downstream element to ship a resource used in the manufacture of the product to the identified upstream element. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the file conforms to an extensible markup language (XML) standard. 
     
     
       10. A method for utilizing multi-level shipping instructions in a manufacturing system, comprising:
 at a first element:
 receiving an order associated with manufacture of a product; 
 generating an electronic, text-based file based on the order, the file including shipping instructions identifying the product; 
 identifying a second element based on the order; and 
 transmitting the file to the second element; and 
 
 at the second element:
 receiving the file including the shipping instructions; 
 identifying manufacturing activities to be completed at the second element based on the shipping instructions; 
 generating instructions for the identified manufacturing activities to be completed at the second element; 
 determining whether at least one downstream element is involved in the manufacture of the product; and 
 for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product:
 identifying a rating of the downstream element; 
 determining whether the shipping instructions are inappropriate for the downstream element at least in part based on the rating of the downstream element; 
 modifying the shipping instructions if the shipping instructions are determined to be inappropriate for the downstream element; and 
 transmitting the shipping instructions to the downstream element. 
 
 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at each of a plurality of downstream elements:
 receiving the shipping instructions, the shipping instructions identifying at least one resource used in the manufacture of the product and an address; 
 identifying the resource based on the shipping instructions; and 
 scheduling shipment of the resource to the address. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at the second element:
 for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product:
 determining whether to transmit a drop shipment instruction or a relay shipment instruction to the downstream element; 
 ensuring that the shipping instructions include the drop shipment instruction in response to determining to transmit the drop shipment instruction to the downstream element; and 
 ensuring that the shipping instructions include the relay shipment instruction in response to determining to transmit the relay shipment instruction to the downstream element. 
 
 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at the second element:
 for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product:
 identifying a manufacturing activity to be completed at the downstream element; and 
 determining whether the shipping instructions are inappropriate for the downstream element at least in part based on the identified manufacturing activity to be completed at the downstream element. 
 
 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at the second element:
 for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product:
 identifying a customer associated with the shipping instructions; and 
 determining whether the shipping instructions are inappropriate for the downstream element at least in part based on the identified customer. 
 
 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at the second element:
 for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product:
 identifying whether the downstream element is part of a pack group; and 
 ensuring that the shipping instructions include a relay shipment instruction in response to identifying that the downstream element is part of the pack group. 
 
 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the shipping instructions received by the second element include an assembly instruction instructing the second element to assemble multiple components of the product. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the shipping instructions received by each downstream element identify at least one upstream element and include a relay shipment instruction instructing the downstream element to ship a resource used in the manufacture of the product to the identified upstream element. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the file conforms to an extensible markup language (XML) standard. 
     
     
       19. Logic for utilizing multi-level shipping instructions in a manufacturing system, the logic encoded in media and operable when executed to:
 at a first element:
 receive an order associated with manufacture of a product; 
 generate an electronic, text-based file based on the order, the file including shipping instructions identifying the product; 
 identify a second element based on the order; and 
 transmit the file to the second element; and 
 
 at the second element:
 receive the file including the shipping instructions; 
 identify manufacturing activities to be completed at the second element based on the shipping instructions; 
 generate instructions for the identified manufacturing activities to be completed at the second element; 
 determine whether at least one downstream element is involved in the manufacture of the product; and 
 for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product:
 identify a rating of the downstream element; 
 determine whether the shipping instructions are inappropriate for the downstream element at least in part based on the rating of the downstream element; 
 modify the shipping instructions if the shipping instructions are determined to be inappropriate for the downstream element; and 
 transmit the shipping instructions to the downstream element. 
 
 
 
     
     
       20. The logic of  claim 19 , further operable when executed to:
 at each of a plurality of downstream elements:
 receive the shipping instructions, the shipping instructions identifying at least one resource used in the manufacture of the product and an address; 
 identify the resource based on the shipping instructions; and 
 schedule shipment of the resource to the address. 
 
 
     
     
       21. The logic of  claim 19 , further operable when executed to:
 at the second element:
 for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product:
 determine whether to transmit a drop shipment instruction or a relay shipment instruction to the downstream element; 
 ensure that the shipping instructions include the drop shipment instruction in response to determining to transmit the drop shipment instruction to the downstream element; and 
 ensure that the shipping instructions include the relay shipment instruction in response to determining to transmit the relay shipment instruction to the downstream element. 
 
 
 
     
     
       22. The logic of  claim 19 , further operable when executed to:
 at the second element:
 for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product:
 identify a manufacturing activity to be completed at the downstream element; and 
 determine whether the shipping instructions are inappropriate for the downstream element at least in part based on the identified manufacturing activity to be completed at the downstream element. 
 
 
 
     
     
       23. The logic of  claim 19 , further operable when executed to:
 at the second element:
 for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product:
 identify a customer associated with the shipping instructions; and 
 determine whether the shipping instructions are inappropriate for the downstream element at least in part based on the identified customer. 
 
 
 
     
     
       24. The logic of  claim 19 , further operable when executed to:
 at the second element:
 for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product:
 identify whether the downstream element is part of a pack group; and 
 ensure that the shipping instructions include a relay shipment instruction in response to identifying that the downstream element is part of the pack group. 
 
 
 
     
     
       25. The logic of  claim 19 , wherein the shipping instructions received by the second element include an assembly instruction instructing the second element to assemble multiple components of the product. 
     
     
       26. The logic of  claim 19 , wherein the shipping instructions received by each downstream element identify at least one upstream element and include a relay shipment instruction instructing the downstream element to ship a resource used in the manufacture of the product to the identified upstream element. 
     
     
       27. The logic of  claim 19 , wherein the file conforms to an extensible markup language (XML) standard. 
     
     
       28. A system for utilizing multi-level shipping instructions in a manufacturing system, comprising:
 at a first element:
 means for receiving an order associated with manufacture of a product; 
 means for generating an electronic, text-based file based on the order, the file including shipping instructions identifying the product; 
 means for identifying a second element based on the order; and 
 means for transmitting the file to the second element; and 
 
 at the second element:
 means for receiving the file including the shipping instructions; 
 means for identifying manufacturing activities to be completed at the second element based on the shipping instructions; 
 means for generating instructions for the identified manufacturing activities to be completed at the second element; 
 means for determining whether at least one downstream element is involved in the manufacture of the product; and 
 for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product:
 means for identifying a rating of the downstream element; 
 means for determining whether the shipping instructions are inappropriate for the downstream element at least in part based on the rating of the downstream element; 
 means for modifying the shipping instructions if the shipping instructions are determined to be inappropriate for the downstream element; and 
 
 
 means for transmitting the shipping instructions to the downstream element. 
 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 at each of a plurality of downstream elements:
 means for receiving the shipping instructions, the shipping instructions identifying at least one resource used in the manufacture of the product and an address; 
 means for identifying the resource based on the shipping instructions; and 
 means for scheduling shipment of the resource to the address. 
 
 
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 at the second element:
 for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product:
 means for determining whether to transmit a drop shipment instruction or a relay shipment instruction to the downstream element; 
 means for ensuring that the shipping instructions include the drop shipment instruction in response to determining to transmit the drop shipment instruction to the downstream element; and 
 means for ensuring that the shipping instructions include the relay shipment instruction in response to determining to transmit the relay shipment instruction to the downstream element. 
 
 
 
     
     
       31. The system of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 at the second element:
 for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product:
 means for identifying a manufacturing activity to be completed at the downstream element; and 
 means for determining whether the shipping instructions are inappropriate for the downstream element at least in part based on the identified manufacturing activity to be completed at the downstream element. 
 
 
 
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 at the second element:
 for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product:
 means for identifying a customer associated with the shipping instructions; and 
 means for determining whether the shipping instructions are inappropriate for the downstream element at least in part based on the identified customer. 
 
 
 
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 at the second element:
 for each downstream element determined to be involved in the manufacture of the product:
 means for identifying whether the downstream element is part of a pack group; and 
 means for ensuring that the shipping instructions include a relay shipment instruction in response to identifying that the downstream element is part of the pack group. 
 
 
 
     
     
       34. The system of  claim 28 , wherein the shipping instructions received by the second element include an assembly instruction instructing the second element to assemble multiple components of the product. 
     
     
       35. The system of  claim 28 , wherein the shipping instructions received by each downstream element identify at least one upstream element and include a relay shipment instruction instructing the downstream element to ship a resource used in the manufacture of the product to the identified upstream element. 
     
     
       36. The system of  claim 28 , wherein the file conforms to an extensible markup language (XML) standard.